Something Xtra Factor for fans of Didcot Comedian Matt Richardson
It’s a show that I have worked on for a long time — it’s my first show. It’s fast-paced, high-energy and full of anecdotal stuff. People should come and see it – it will be a fun night. I want to be as funny as possible for the people of Newbury.
All I have every wanted to do is be able to tour off my own back. I’m literally living my dream, I’m so excited to do it.
I’m just a bit of an idiot and make awkward situations for myself constantly. I first started working on this in February 2012. It’s basically the best of everything I’ve ever written put together into a show and polished as one thing. I have been working on it for a long time trying to get it right.
There’s a lot of off-the-cuff stuff in the show, there’s a lot of audience interaction – obviously that’s different every night.
It was a bit tongue-in-cheek originally because I’m not one. When I started writing the show I wasn’t famous or on TV or anything. There’s a bit in the show that I’m most known for among my friends and it’s not me doing any
stand-up, it’s me selling myself. It’s about me being awkward and weird.
I got the job on the
and now it looks like I’m being arrogant, but it was a joke when I decided on that title. I’m not even the funniest out of my friends; I’m like the least funny. When I chirp up and try to get involved, they all go ‘Oh, look, the professional comedian is joining in’.
I started at 18, doing lots of gigs for no money. I won the Newbury Comedy Festival when I was 19. That was the first thing I ever won. Then I just planned away. I went professional at 20 and did all the comedy clubs.
This year I’m doing the
and pushing to be a nightclub comedian. I did my last preview show in my home town. I’m really excited to take it out. I love travelling.
I was born in Oxford, grew up in Abingdon, and then moved to Didcot. It has got lots of quirky bits about it that I talk about in the show.
Xtra Factor
I was nervous... and really excited. We started on August 31, going to the judges houses – all four of them. We have been working on it for three-and-a-half months now... I just wanted to get the first one [episode] out.
It's fun frolicking with Nicole Scherzinger. I went out for dinner the other night with her and Caroline Flack and I texted my friend saying ‘Oh my God, I’m out for dinner with two per cent of
top 100 sexiest women in the world’. My life is amazing.
She’s amazing. Caroline and I get along like a house on fire. We’re like brother and sister – she’s the older sister and I’m the annoying younger brother.
I have never presented before. To begin with I was quite worried and really panicked, but I’m about as far from Olly Murs as you can get, so people won’t think I’m replacing him.
I’m still a stand-up comedian – I don’t see myself as a presenter. I feel like I’m a comedian on
, not a presenter that does comedy. Comedy is my heart. The only reason I do anything on TV is to sell tickets on tour. It’s a great platform.
Not yet. We did our press launch and he was there. He thanked everyone – Caroline, Nicole, Sharon, then he forgot my name and referred to me as ‘the new arrival’.
They are all amazing – brilliant for different reasons.
I have formed a really close bond with Sharon [Osbourne], she’s really motherly. Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh are also interesting. Nicole is beautiful, funny and just brilliant. And I love Dermot [O’Leary]. He’s given me loads of advice.
Matt Richardson will be performing at New Greenham Arts, Newbury, on Saturday, October 5, and at Norden Farm Arts, Maidenhead, on Friday, November 1. Over-16s only. Tickets cost £12. For more information and to book, log on to www.mattrichardsoncomedy.co.uk
